Umpqua Mariposa Lily / Center For Plant Conservation
Search / Plant Profile / Calochortus umpquaensis
Plant Profile

Umpqua Mariposa Lily (Calochortus umpquaensis)

A bugs-eye view of calochortus umpquaensis. Photo Credit: Fredricks
  • Global Rank: G3 - Vulnerable
  • Legal Status: N/A
  • Family: Liliaceae
  • State: OR
  • Nature Serve ID: 133753
  • Lifeform: Forb/herb
  • Date Inducted in National Collection: 02/10/1987
Description:

As its name suggests, Calochortus umpquaensis is only found along the Umpqua River in southwestern Oregon. It is restricted to serpentine soils, which characteristically have high concentrations of heavy, toxic metals. Despite its narrow range and specific soil requirements, this rare lily occurs within a broad continuum of habitats: from closed canopy coniferous forests to open grass-forb meadow. On Aril 4, 1996, a conservation agreement was signed and implemented by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service (USFS) and the Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This agreement addressed the effects of timber harvest and cattle grazing on BLM lands. Already, the impact of this initiative is apparent. In the early 1990s 120,000 to 140,000 Umpqua mariposa lily individuals were estimated. By end of the 1990s, populations were estimated to total between 400,000 and 800,000 individuals on BLM lands alone. Based on this information, the Fish and Wildlife Service removed it from the list of Candidate for Endangered status in 1999 (USFWS 2000). It remains listed as endangered by the state of Oregon.

Where is Umpqua Mariposa Lily (Calochortus umpquaensis) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Predominantly in grassland-forest ecotones on serpentine-derived soils (Fredricks 1989) Serpentine soils (Fredricks 1992) Broad range of habitats: from closed canopy coniferous forests to open grass-forb meadows. Predominantly in the ecotone (transition zone between the forest and meadow) (Fredricks 1992).

Distribution:

OR: Klamath Mountains

States & Provinces:

Umpqua Mariposa Lily can be found in Oregon

Which CPC Partners conserve Umpqua Mariposa Lily (Calochortus umpquaensis)?

CPC's Plant Sponsorship Program provides long term stewardship of rare plants in our National Collection. We are so grateful for all our donors who have made the Plant Sponsorship Program so successful. We are in the process of acknowledging all our wonderful plant sponsorship donors on our website. This is a work in progress and will be updated regularly.

Conservation Actions

Kris Freitag
  • 09/20/2022

As part of CPC's IMLS funded initiative to determine seed storage longevity in wild rare plant species, seed of Umpqua mariposa lily (Calochortus umpquaensis) was collected at a BLM site in the Cascade Mountain foothills of southwest Oregon. This charming plant is found only in three southwest counties, on serpentine soils and in open grassy woods. The spring’s unusually wet and cool weather made it more difficult to judge when to collect. However, we managed to collect enough apparently good seed. Typical of Calochortus, seed collection was a breeze, as we simply placed an envelope under the opening of the ripe, pendant capsule and shook it until a portion of seed was released.

Center for Plant Conservation
  • 08/17/2021
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

In 2021, CPC contracted the Rae Selling Berry Botanic Garden to recollect seed from a population currently held in long term orthodox seed storage as part of an IMLS-funded seed longevity experiment. The National Laboratory for Genetic Resources Preservation will evaluate how germination tested viability and RNA Integrity of seed lots decline over time in storage.

  • 09/01/2020
  • Propagation Research

Germination trials at The Berry Botanic Garden obtained 100% germination after 8 weeks of cold stratification followed by a constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50F/68F (10/20C) environment (BBG File).

  • 09/01/2020
  • Propagation Research

Effect of prescribed burning and vegetation thinning at the Little River Adaptive Management Area (BLM 2002) Seed biology studies and germination trials indicate that germination is stimulated by a long (12-14 week) period of cold, moist, dark stratification. This ensures that seeds only germinate in the spring, following the cold winter (Florance 1994).

  • 09/01/2020
  • Demographic Research

In a three-year comparative demographic study, permanent plots were monitored at five sites comprising three different habitat types for C. umpquaensis and at two sites for C. coxii. Bud production was highest and plants were most dense and larger on average in the ecotone habitat (area between grassland and forest). Individual growth rates were higher among C. umpquaensis than among C. coxii, and it was less habitat-specific, suggesting that it is able to colonize. Transition matrix models indicated that the populations studied are projected to be stable rather than increasing or decreasing (Fredricks 1992). Demographic comparisons using matrix models were made between eight closely related species from the Calochortus genus. Results indicated that matrix models do not give a complete picture of population dynamics. Population distribution (proportion of seedlings, juveniles, and reproductive adults) were highly variable between population, habitats, and years. For most species, including C. umpquaensis, there was a lower proportion of juvenile plants than the model predicted. Reproduction was most limiting to population growth and more variable, and perhaps less predictable than was mortality. Reproductive output varied considerably across habitats (Feidler et al. 1998).

  • 09/01/2020
  • Orthodox Seed Banking

Seed from 4 locations stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.

  • 09/01/2020
  • Seed Collection

Seed from 4 locations stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.

Nature Serve Biotics
  • 05/02/2017

Largely restricted to serpentine soils in the Umpqua River drainage, Douglas County, southwestern Oregon, with two small outlying occurrences known from adjacent Josephine and Jackson counties. Approximately 14-17 occurrences are believed extant; two of these are located on private lands, with the remainder relatively evenly split between Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS)-managed lands. Many of the occurrences are somewhat small, but several contain thousands of individuals, and one on BLM lands is reported to harbor an estimated 400,000 - 800,000 individuals. In the mid-1990s, logging and cattle grazing were believed to be significant threats. However, in 1996, a conservation agreement was signed by the BLM, USFS, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that addressed these two issues, at least on public lands. Other threats include significant consumption of reproductive structures by native herbivores (e.g. deer) at some sites, competition from weedy non-native species, bulb collection, potentially reduced habitat quality due to fire suppression, and the potential for mining of the nickel-rich soils in which the plant occurs.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Grazing (Fredricks 1989) Logging and road construction (Fredricks 1989) Bulb digging by collectors (Fredricks 1989) Nickel mining (Fredricks 1989) Competition from non-native vegetation

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

2000: 14 populations (4 on BLM land), estimated 400,000 to 800,000 individuals on BLM land (USFWS 2000).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Effect of prescribed burning and vegetation thinning at the Little River Adaptive Management Area (BLM 2002) Seed biology studies and germination trials indicate that germination is stimulated by a long (12-14 week) period of cold, moist, dark stratification. This ensures that seeds only germinate in the spring, following the cold winter (Florance 1994). Germination trials at The Berry Botanic Garden obtained 100% germination after 8 weeks of cold stratification followed by a constant 68F (20C) or alternating 50F/68F (10/20C) environment (BBG File). In a three-year comparative demographic study, permanent plots were monitored at five sites comprising three different habitat types for C. umpquaensis and at two sites for C. coxii. Bud production was highest and plants were most dense and larger on average in the ecotone habitat (area between grassland and forest). Individual growth rates were higher among C. umpquaensis than among C. coxii, and it was less habitat-specific, suggesting that it is able to colonize. Transition matrix models indicated that the populations studied are projected to be stable rather than increasing or decreasing (Fredricks 1992). Demographic comparisons using matrix models were made between eight closely related species from the Calochortus genus. Results indicated that matrix models do not give a complete picture of population dynamics. Population distribution (proportion of seedlings, juveniles, and reproductive adults) were highly variable between population, habitats, and years. For most species, including C. umpquaensis, there was a lower proportion of juvenile plants than the model predicted. Reproduction was most limiting to population growth and more variable, and perhaps less predictable than was mortality. Reproductive output varied considerably across habitats (Feidler et al. 1998).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

On April 4, 1996, a Conservation Agreement among the BLM, the Forest Service (FS), and the Fish and Wildlife Service (F&WS) was signed and was implemented. This agreement addressed the effects of timber harvest and cattle grazing (USFWS 2000). In 1999, between 400,000 and 800,000 C. umpquaensis individuals were estimated to occur on BLM land. These numbers are significantly higher than the 120,000 to 140,000 individuals estimated in the early 1990s. Subsequently, the Fish and Wildlife Service removed it from the list of Candidate for Endangered status. (USFWS 2000) Seed from 4 locations stored at The Berry Botanic Garden.

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Continued search for new populations (Fredricks 1989) Study factors influencing limited distribution (Fredricks 1989) US Forest Service is working with landowners to adjust seasonal livestock use and fences Continued monitoring (Fredricks 1992).

Edward Guerrant, Ph.D.
  • 01/01/2010

Collect and store seeds from populations across the range. Determine propagation and re-introduction protocols.

MORE

Be the first to post an update!

Nomenclature
Taxon Calochortus umpquaensis
Authority N.A. Fredricks
Family Liliaceae
CPC Number 7004
ITIS 501150
USDA CAUM5
Duration Perennial
Common Names Umpqua Mariposa lily
Associated Scientific Names Calochortus umpquaensis
Distribution OR: Klamath Mountains
State Rank
State State Rank
Oregon S3
Ecological Relationships

Photos
Reintroduction
Lead Institution State Reintroduction Type Year of First Outplanting
Berry Botanic Garden Oregon Reinforcement

Donate to CPC to Save this Species

CPC secures rare plants for future generations by coordinating on-the-ground conservation and training the next generation of plant conservation professionals. Donate today to help save rare plants from extinction.

Donate Today